Context:
Nuclear power has been in the news with NTPC announcing a partnership with the USbased Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) to develop thorium based fuel for use in nuclear reactors.
Thorium
Thorium is slightly radioactive metal that can be used to create nuclear fuel. It is available more than uranium and can be used in most reactor types. Thorium fuel has some advantages over uranium, including:
- Fissile material breeding:
- Thorium can generate more fissile material (uranium-233) than it consumes.
- Environmental friendliness:
- Thorium-fueled reactors produce less long-lived nuclear waste than uranium-fueled reactors.
- Diversification:
- Thorium can be used as a diversification option for nuclear fuel supply.
- Largest Producer in India
- Kerala is India’s largest producer of thorium.
- Thorium reserves in India:
- India has a thorium reserve of 11.93 million tonnes, with Kerala and Odisha contributing over 70% of the country’s total.
Thorium as Fuel
- Risks
- Thorium is a radioactive material that means risk, such as contamination by radiation exposure.
- Cost
- The cost of fabrication and reprocessing thorium is higher than using traditional solid fuel rods.
- Testing
- Significant and expensive testing, analysis, and licensing work would be required.
- Applicability
- Thorium has relatively low applicability in non-nuclear power generation settings.
Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE)
Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) is a US-headquartered company that develops nuclear fuel to address climate and human development challenges.
- Fuel:
- CCTE’s flagship fuel, ANEEL, combines thorium with small amounts of enriched uranium. ANEEL is designed to be used in existing pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
